Food in South Korea: Vegetarian Nightmare

Being a vegetarian whilst travelling in Korea was really difficult. It has most definitely been the hardest country to find food with no meat or fish. Even harder than other countries I found difficult such as Taiwan and Brazil. If you share my dilemma, you might want to read this post all to do with vegetarian food in South Korea.

Most Korean restaurants will serve a few different dishes . . . well. Therefore, if you are looking for a certain type of food then you need to find this type of restaurant.

Why was finding vegetarian food in South Korea so difficult?

Chaeshickchu means vegetarian in Korea but this does not mean a strict vegetarian but only that you do not eat red meat. In addition, if you do manage to communicate no fish and no white meat, you will find that your food is cooked in bone stock or anchovy stock. Fish is in everything with the food in South Korea – whether the food is actually fish, cooked in a fish broth or is fish looking like other food items such as carrots or potatoes. Not vegetarian friendly at all!

If you are wanting to eat local then you are going to have a problem. It’s handy to have a non-vegetarian friend with you to try food in South Korea to check if they have fish in it.

What can I eat if I am vegetarian in South Korea?

There are a few traditional food in South Korea, which do not contain meat and fish especially if you make it clear that you don’t want fish sauce or sprinkles on them. Such foods are:

Bibimbap 비빔밥

This is a rice and vegetables meal served with an egg on top. If you ask for a vegetable one then it is most likely not to contain fish but just in case make sure you say “no fish”. Also they might add a little meat in as a treat so make sure that when ordering a vegetable one you ensure that you ask for no meat.

Gimbap 김밥

Gimbap is strips of pickled vegetables and rice rolled in seaweed. It is very cheap and available on most street markets. This normally has crab, fish or spam in it but can be made without or with tofu in it. However be aware that the fish they put in it looks very much like fried tofu. Be careful.

Kimchi 김치

This is served with most meals and is easily the most popular type of food in South Korea. It’s Korean pickled cabbage in a chilli paste. Most are made with fish sauce so have a sniff before you chew or ask your faithful meat eater friend to try. However there are versions made without shrimp or fish sauce. Ask for No saeujeot 새우젓 (shrimp sauce) or aekjeot 액젓 (fish sauce).

Vegetable dumplings 소만두

The vegetarian types are somandu and Napjak-mandu which are dumplings containing glass noodles and vegetables. They are typically steamed, fried or boiled.

Potato pancakes 감자 전

Gamja Jon are potato pancakes which contain vegetables. However there are meat versions of these so to ensure they are vegetarian then ask for no meat and no fish.

Mung bean pancake 빈대떡

Nokdu Jeon is a made by grinding soaked Mung beans and then adding things before frying it. Make sure you ask for a vegetable one.

Soup

Doenjang Jigae ( 된장 찌개 ) is a soup made of doenjang (bean paste) however you have to be careful that seafood or meat is not added and that the stock is not Anchovy water or bone stock.

Watch out for vegetable noodle soup. They will have cooked it with anchovy water and everything in it will taste of fish. Anchovy water is a big problem for vegetarians in South Korea.

Roast Chestnuts 밤

These are called Bam and are often sold on the street. A great vegetarian snack.

Jap chae 잡채

This is cold vegetables and glass noodles. Make sure you ask for no meat as sometimes they will add it as an extra treat.

Deodeok root 더덕

This is a type of bellflower root which is in a spicy sauce and grilled. The texture is slightly meaty but in Korea it is known to have great health benefits therefore the dish is quite expensive.

Where else can I eat in South Korea that will have vegetarian food?

Check out Buddhist monastery restaurants. They will be slightly more expensive but everything there will be vegetarian.

In the city you will find plenty of foreign food places where there will most likely be a vegetarian option but again make it clear that you want no meat or fish as just because the pepperoni isn’t in the picture or menu doesn’t mean it won’t appear on your food.

If you are with a few meat eaters then check out the BBQ. Here you sit round a table and grill your own meat. You get plenty of side dishes of vegetables and can order additional egg souflee. However I wouldn’t try doing this alone as this is a meat eating establishment.

Loving Hut can be found all over South Korea and sells vegetarian and vegan food in South Korea.

There are also plenty of fast food places such as McDonalds, Pizza Hut, Burger King and so many Baskin Robbins.

Korean words which might help:

I am vegetarian – Jeoneun chaeshikjooeeja imnida 저는 채식주의자입니다

However this might not help as it commonly means just that you do not eat red meat only.

And most of all . . . . good luck!

Do you struggle with finding food that you like when travelling? Do you have a dietary requirement? Did you encounter the same problem as mine with the food in South Korea? Please comment below. Don’t forget to subscribe (It’s free!) to my blog for more posts like this and interesting travel tips.

Just a note to say:

Have you noticed I do not have intrusive adverts on my page making the site run slow for you, or that interrupt your reading. This is because I want to make your reading experience as pleasant as possible. Writing blog posts isn’t as easy as it looks. I spend a long time making sure I give you correct information about places, edit the posts so they read well and then add the edited photos I have taken or add the google maps location. I do this as I love to travel and love helping other people to travel. If you enjoyed what you have read then there are other ways you can support me as a travel blogger other than putting up with annoying adverts:

You could buy me a coffee

Use the links on my sources page which are affiliates.– Head over to Amazon to buy some products using this link .– Looking for website hosting? Take a look at Bluehost using this link.– Need to book some accommodation then check out Booking.com and Skyscanner for flights, check them out using this link.

31 comments

Not a vegetarian, but all of this food looks yummy! Did I really just read Gimbap is made with SPAM sometimes??? I didn’t even realize they had SPAM in other countries, let alone used it in meals that were served in restaurants or at street vendors.

This is such an interesting post. Thank you so much for sharing. I’m a veggie and it can either be super easy (Thailand) or impossible (France- I lived off bread, chips and cheese for a week). Putting a bit of meat in for a treat, oh god! I worry about this so much! I was at a friends for New year and I got so upset because the guy cooking kept going on about me being a veggie like it was a joke. Then let me eat some beans and told me after they were pork beans! I was almost sick.

Great guide! I’m not vegetarian but I’m also not hugely experimental with my food when it comes to fish & seafood so I like choosing vegetarian meals when travelling. We will be in South Korea at the end of the month so it’s good to know what some of these dishes are. I love Bibimbap and Kimchi.

I find traveling in SEA very difficult for a vegetarian – there’s so much meat everywhere! I’m not too picky though and will eat the occasional fish if I can’t find anything to my liking (aka if I’m starving!). I haven’t been to South Korea but will keep Loving Hut in mind if ever I do go – thanks for the info!

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Name*

Email*

Website

Notify me of follow-up comments by email.

Notify me of new posts by email.

Hi there, I'm Kathy from the North of England. In 2008 I went from package holidays to traveling solo around the world and now I have visited over 55 countries. My passion is exploring the road less traveled and being immersed in different cultures.

Support my blog:
If you like what you are reading then please support my writing